Author: jmurphy@aampglobal.com

GPS tracking technology offers several substantial benefits for any fleet management operations. With these benefits, most are efficiency related and help reduce business costs while improving overall flexibility. While this does require an initial investment, it is well worth it in the long run. Get to know about what benefits are offered by GPS tracking technology for your fleet here. 

Route Optimization

When you have GPS trackers installed in your fleet vehicles, you have real-time data on the location of each vehicle in the fleet. This allows you to send the best route for the fleet vehicle to take and avoid any potential delays because of accidents, traffic jams, or construction. 

Reduced Response Time to Improve Customer Service 

By installing tracking devices in your company’s fleet vehicles, it can help improve overall response time. This means when dealing with customers, you can choose the vehicle that is closest to the location of the customer to ensure they receive responsive and prompt service. 

Reduced Fuel Costs

One of the main expenses related to fleet management is fuel costs. However, with GPS tracking devices, you can reduce these costs and save a lot of money. You can also reduce total idle time for vehicles with GPS tracking devices. This is because you can help reduce the amount of time your technicians sitting in traffic in their vehicle or not being used by providing a more straightforward and efficient route for fleet drivers to take while they are on the road. 

Improve Fleet Vehicle Safety

Another benefit offered by using tracking devices in your fleet vehicle management is to help improve the total safety of the fleet. With the right GPS tracking devices, you can identify any issues with a driver before being saddled with a costly repair bill because of poor or subpar driving habits. 

Also, when your drivers know that their driving habits are being watched or monitored, they will not take any unnecessary risks or put undue wear and tear on your company vehicles. 

Reduce Theft Related Losses

If a criminal or thief knows that your vehicles are being tracked, they will be aware that the likelihood of getting caught is much higher. This means they will also move on to a different vehicle that looks like an easier target. The right GPS tracking devices will work to help deter thieves and if your fleet vehicle is stolen, you have the ability to recover it and reduce possible losses. 

Invest in GPS Fleet Management to Improve Your Business and Bottom Line

As you can see, modern GPS tracking devices offer an array of benefits for any fleet manager. It is important to find the right solution for your needs to ensure that all these benefits are offered. If necessary, work with the professionals to ensure the right fleet management system is integrated and that it will provide you with the benefits needed for ongoing cost and time savings.

Over 7 million Americans work jobs in the trucking industry. Driving a truck for a living is both rewarding and a bit stressful at times. Being on the road all of the time can be dangerous, which is why most truck drivers take great strides to mitigate the dangers around each corner. Whether you are a truck driver or the owner of a trucking company, finding ways to make navigating the roadways of America safer is crucial.

With all of the different equipment designed to increase driver safety, choosing the right ones for your 18-wheelers can be difficult. Most truck drivers are adamant about having dashcams in their rigs and here are some reasons why.

1. Protect Your Truck While You Are Away

As you drive the roads of America, you will have to stop for a bite to eat or to rest for a while. During these periods of rest, you may be away from your truck for a while. If your truck is vandalized or hit by another driver, you want a record of this event. The only way to produce a record of these incidents is with the help of a high-quality dashcam.

Many of the dashcams on the market are motion-activated. This means as soon as a disturbance is detected, the camera will come on and start filming. If you are bedding down in truck stops that are in bad neighborhoods, having a dashcam is a wise move.

2. Dashcams Can Record Car Accidents

Approximately 500,000 trucking accidents occur in the United States annually. In some cases, these accidents are caused by driver negligence. If a truck driver has to prove that the other driver involved in an accident was negligent without a dashcam, they will have a very hard time. Without this type of video evidence, it is basically the truck driver’s word against the other motorist.

Adding a dashcam to your rig will help you record an accident in detail. The money paid for this dashcam will pale in comparison to the cost of repairing damage to your truck. Researching the various dashcams on the market is vital before making a decision. Checking out the reviews and capabilities of each dashcam will allow you to make an informed choice regarding which one to purchase.

3. Report Erratic Driving

Truck drivers spend a lot of time on the road. During your time on the road, you will probably encounter motorists who are driving while distracted or operating their vehicles dangerously. When you encounter this type of dangerous driving, having a way to document it is vital. This is where a quality dashcam will come in handy. Once you have chosen the right dashcam to put in your rig, be sure to get a durable and easy to install mounting kit. With this mounting kit, you can keep your new dashcam functional.

Get a Great Deal on a New Dashcam

Contact the team at M2M In Motion if you want a high-quality dashcam at a competitive price.

If you manage a fleet, you may understand the importance of knowing what goes on when you’re not there to witness it yourself. Sending workers or employees out there and not being able to see for yourself is a very stressful part of operations. With dash cams, you can rest assured that you have an excellent handle and viewpoint as to all that goes on in your operation. In this guide, we will help you to understand the importance of dash cams when it comes to safety in your fleet operation. 

Communication

A dashcam setup can allow you to communicate with your drivers. Not only can you keep an eye on a new, but you can communicate with them and give them real-time feedback to make sure they are on track and adequately following all safety protocols. 

Humans do much better with instantaneous feedback than waiting until the end of the day and asking them to recall a specific incident. Having this ability to alert drivers to an unsafe behavior could prevent an accident before it happens. Communication is critical when it comes to a new driver. If they have not been working for your company very long, chances are they will be nervous, and you will need to check in often. The dashcam is a safe and easy way to make this happen. 

Insurance

In today’s world, a considerable part of business ownership is learning how to protect yourself. Dash cams can make sure that you stay protected by giving you video evidence as to what happened. Since you are the owner of a business, you can be looked at as a potential target. If you have video evidence that your driver had nothing to do with the cause of the accident, it can pay for all your dashcams all at once. You were proving that your company was following the proper safety protocol, and adhering to traffic laws will go a long way when there are insurance claims that come up. 

Risk Analysis

Dash cams can allow you to do a bit of a deeper dive into any of the weak spots in your company. If you have heard of the terminology “accident waiting to happen,” you will be able to witness these for yourself. A proper review of the dashcam videos can help you see parts of your business that you would not usually see. Whether it has to do with theft, traffic regulations, or routing, a dash cam provides you a tremendous opportunity to keep your business safe and allow you a much lower level of risk across the board. 

Many business owners think of dash cams from an operational standpoint. They make their decision about whether or not to install a dashcam based on the need to manage the company. As you can see from our guide, the dashcam serves a much bigger purpose outside of operations and management. Keeping your employees, workers, customers, and strangers safe should be the ultimate goal of any business owner. With dash cams installed on your fleet, you will be able to accomplish this much easier.

Car dash cams have long served drivers well. A dash cam can give you a second set of eyes while being on the move and convenient access to an instant replay of events encountered on the road. In the past few years, fleet owners have come to realize how useful this same technology is on company vehicles, which is why they’ve been incorporated into trucks around the globe.

While these cameras involve simple recording technology and might seem like a small or insignificant addition to some, they have the power to transform your driving experience in multiple ways. Installing a dashcam on your ride could potentially help you lower your insurance rates, improve training and protect your fleet from false claims of accidents.

Lowering Insurance Rates

While it’s not a guarantee with every insurance company, it’s possible that using a dashcam in your company vehicle could help you lower insurance rates.

Installing dash cams that monitor everything that happens on the road ahead shows you’re serious about safe driving. Which your insurance agency is sure to appreciate – and perhaps even incentivize, depending on which provider you’re using to cover the truck in question.

Historically, companies have offered up to a 3% discount based on the presence of monitoring equipment such as ELDs, which when applied to an entire fleet, can save you a vast amount of cash each and every month.

Improved Training

When training as a new driver, you need all the tools you can get to ensure the directions you’re getting are having the desired impact on your training process to learn safe, legal driving practices. Dashcams fit into your training plan excellently in many different ways:

● Allow you to review driving after each solo outing

● Great opportunity to review and advice on necessary driving changes

● Allow you to see the road – and obstacles – from the driver’s point of view

● See what you are doing well and what you still need to work on

The best part is that when you use a dashcam for semi-truck driver training, you can optimize all the training process. You can be precisely evaluated remotely from your trainers’ office.

You can simply review after each drive, and go over areas of improvement, so you know exactly what you need to work on. This practice can save you a vast amount of your time.

Protection from False Claims

Unfortunately, false claims involving semi-trucks are occurring exceedingly often each and every year. In fact, some drivers cause accidents with semi-trucks intentionally so they can claim the insurance money in the aftermath.

Accidents involving semis can have a considerable settlement in some cases. This not only puts your business at risk from hefty lawsuits but could result in the loss of your driver’s CDL license if you cannot prove that they were not the cause of the accident in question.

When you have a dashcam installed, however, you have all the proof you need that your driver did not cause the crash and have an additional layer of protection against false claims.

Invest in the Best

Protecting your fleet and your job should always be at the top of your list of priorities. Installing a high-end dash cam can help you get the most of your money and can benefit you and your company in a significant way, keep an eye on your fleet, and review any accidents at a moment’s notice. Everything while pleasing your insurance company.

Buy dash cams and other important monitoring tools with M2M In Motion for your fleet today and enjoy the many benefits that these small but impressive pieces of technology have to offer your day-to-day operations. We provide solutions for you and your business. Contact us today!

Image Credit: Getty Images /-lvinst-

The typical automatic onboard recording device (AOBRD) has served the modern business world well over the past few decades in terms of accessible, flexible fleet management and long-haul drive time recordings. However, as of December 16, 2019, an FMCSA guideline will enter its full compliance phase, and a huge number of long-haul drivers will need to make the change from the familiar AOBRD to an electronic logging device (ELD).

While this change has been in the works since the early months of 2016, the final deadline to make the switch now looms just over the horizon. It may seem like there are a few months to wait it out and enjoy the flexibility that AOBRDs offer for just a little longer, there’s plenty of reasons to switch over to the new system.

Better, More Professional Data Collection

The biggest difference between ELDs and AOBRDs is that an ELD device collects far more information during long-haul drives and reports more accurate results while enforcing harder standards on what qualifies as drive time. According to the new law, ELDs will be required to capture and report additional information such as:

• Engine power status
• Vehicle motion status
• Engine hours
• Driving distance

It also must be able to accumulate all of these details into a graph grid that shows the driver’s activity for any given day or trip. All of this new information helps you calculate more accurate drive time for each trip a driver makes. This, in turn, allows you to ensure that every driver is sticking to mandatory Hours of Service regulations regarding drive time and that your fleet stays compliant.

Get an Early Start on Training

As you might imagine, this involves an entirely different level of technology, which means drivers will need training before it can be properly implemented. Drivers will need to learn to use the equipment, what documentation they’ll need to keep and how to properly log their hours on the new ELD system.

Non-driving personnel will need to learn to interpret the data the new device produces to calculate hours and delivery times.
Depending on the size of your operation, this training period could take as little as a few days or long as a few months. It’s always better to get early training rather than waiting and falling behind once the transition enters its final phase at year’s end, and ELD enforcement becomes an issue.

Adjust Your Operations

The use of ELDs will help to enforce stricter drive hours for long-haul truckers to ensure safe driving conditions for everyone. However, this also means that delivery trips may take longer after the change than they have historically. A drive that might’ve once been made in a single day may now take two.

It’s a good idea to begin using ELDs as soon as possible to get a head start on understanding how it’ll impact your driving schedule. You can begin working with customers to accommodate these new drive times.

Find a Certified Device

Rushing to get an important job done at the last second often leads to mistakes, and shopping for ELDs for your fleet is no exception. When purchasing new hardware, keep in mind that not just an ELD will do. They must be self-certified and registered with the FMCSA and meet certain performance requirements to keep you compliant with the law.

Before your delivery schedule and legal compliance dive, take the time to get started on the transition to your new ELD devices. Learn more about the regulations regarding devices, the ELD mandate timeline and hours of service at the official FMCSA site. Contact M2M In Motion to get your devices installed and get trained on your new technology. We’ll help to ensure that the transition goes as smooth as possible.

Image Credit: Shutterstock/stefanolunardi

If you manage a small fleet, vehicle fleet management software can streamline operations by keeping track of your trucks, drivers, and deliveries in real-time. While some trackers require complicated installation and setup, others are easy to learn and provide the real-time information you need. M2M in Motion has an uncomplicated and simplified hardware and software option for vehicle tracking companies.

M2M In Motion Fleet Tracking Software

When you need to track your entire fleet in real-time, M2M in Motion provides the data you need to make smart business decisions. This software relies on a streamlined device that plugs into the OBD2 port of each truck, collecting information to ensure that the vehicle is running smoothly. Some of the key features of the M2M in Motion package include:

•  Meter-level GPS accuracy so you know exactly where every vehicle is, without inefficient and inconvenient lag time
•  Detailed location history of reviewing driver routes and analyzing performance, gas mileage, delivery times and other metrics
•  Real-time route and traffic analytics to enhance productivity and efficiency
•  Real-time alerts and detailed reports to identify potential fuel and labor waste
•  Streamlined maintenance diagnostics for each vehicle, including fault code alerts in real-time, utilization reports and engine health updates

This powerful software is designed with an intuitive, user-friendly interface that takes the guesswork out of fleet management. M2M in Motion serves as a trusted partner to keep operations running smoothly, whether you have a fleet of two trucks or 200-plus. A comprehensive training and support program offers a dedicated ticket system for questions and concerns, an extensive video training channel, group training sessions and online one-on-one training available in English, Spanish or Serbian. More than 20,000 vehicles across the U.S. rely on these smart data solutions.

M2M in Motion Hardware and Mounting Systems

M2M in Motion fleet tracking software can be used with any Android or Apple device, as well as with a laptop or desktop computer. A convenient mobile app allows users to keep in touch with their fleet on the go. With a durable mounting system, you can safely access data and reports directly on your dashboard. The sturdy aluminum mount is designed to work with tablets and smartphones with screens ranging from 7 to 10 inches. It can even accommodate your device’s protective case. The versatile base is easy to drill or screw into any flat surface for a comfortable, ergonomic viewing experience.

A lock and key system keep your tablet secure when you’re parked at a meeting or work site. A magnetic charging system ensures that the device never loses power, with a smart power supply that keeps the device charging for a full 40 minutes after you cut the ignition. These mounting systems help fleets comply with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration requirements for Electronic Logging Devices (ELD). These rules apply to commercial drivers who are required to submit official hours of service records.

Once you’ve chosen the best hardware for your GPS fleet tracking needs, take it to the next level with M2M in Motion GPS trucking management software. Our platform is specifically designed to cut costs and streamline operations for small fleets, with data collection that meets the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration requirements. Contact us today to learn more about our software and schedule a demonstration for your team to experience the versatile features and comprehensive data available through M2M in Motion.

Originally developed by the U.S. Department of Defense, GPS tracking was first used for military purposes. The technology has become increasingly popular for getting directions and traveling to new places since it was released to the public. GPS tracking also has numerous advantages that make it ideal for small businesses.

GPS trackers use satellite signals to determine location, making it a useful technology for companies of all sizes. Small businesses in particular benefit from being able to track employees and shipments to increase productivity. Not only does it allow businesses to monitor their vehicles, but it also helps companies analyze productivity and determine how to enhance it. Companies in almost any industry can benefit from having a vehicle tracking system; however, here are five small business types that may find a GPS tracking system to be especially useful.

Contractors

Building contractors oversee many jobs at once. Because they often hire out many subcontractors at once to complete electrical, plumbing, and building tasks, general contractors need to be able to monitor the people working for them to ensure the building process runs smoothly. Having a GPS system that tracks the whereabouts of these subcontractors helps general contractors make sure the jobs are completed in a timely manner so the next building phase can begin.

Restaurants

Many restaurants offer delivery services. Having drivers out on the road delivering orders is a beneficial service for customers, but it is also an easy way to decrease productivity if it is not monitored closely. A vehicle management system helps restaurant managers track employees so they can ensure orders are delivered on time. Drivers benefit from being able to find the fastest route to the destination, while customers appreciate the fact that they can often view the location of their food while it is en route via the internet.

Car Services

Rental car companies, taxis, and rideshare businesses all benefit greatly from GPS. Many large rental car companies do not spend the money to outfit all of their vehicles with expensive GPS systems, but small businesses can significantly benefit from the added expense because it ensures their cars cannot be stolen. This makes GPS an incredibly efficient way to track and manage the vehicles as they are rented out. In contrast, taxis and rideshare services benefit from GPS tracking because it helps drivers find the fastest routes and lets customers know when their ride has arrived.

Landscapers

Landscape companies often have hundreds of yards and several employees to ensure jobs are completed quickly and efficiently. The best way to monitor employees is to install a GPS system in work vehicles to track location. Having a vehicle management system also helps owners of landscape companies track mileage and find ways to increase productivity.

HVAC Technicians

HVAC technicians often complete a dozen or more service calls in a single day. Vehicle management systems help managers know where their employees are and dispatch those who are in the right area when urgent calls come in. Not only does this save the company time and resources, but it also enhances productivity and customer service. With a GPS system, the company can keep the customer informed on timetables and alert them when the technician arrives.

Regardless of which industry your business is in, it can benefit from having a GPS system. Vehicle management systems are advantageous for any company with multiple vehicles to increase productivity and ensure jobs are completed quickly and efficiently. This technology also enhances customer service by allowing customers to track orders, rides, and services. Because they have so many benefits for both the company and consumers, GPS systems are excellent investments for you to build the best business possible. If you are interested in purchasing a GPS system to enhance your small business, contact M2M in Motion today to discuss your options and find the solution that works best for you!

Do you know where your fleet is? Determining the exact location of each of your trucks can be difficult, with keeping track of fuel usage and mileage being even more time-consuming. Whether you are operating a fleet of hundreds of trucks or managing a small business with just a few, discover how to track your fleet efficiently by fitting each truck with a vehicle tracking device.

Constant Connection

Using our innovative GPS tracking system software, you will enjoy immediate feedback and have instant location information for all your vehicles. Think of the convenience of shipment tracking and apply it to all of your trucks.

Your real-time connection will give you access to a wide range of information and communication features, including:

• Traffic information
• Fuel efficiency
• Fault codes
• Location

With fleet tracking, you will never have to worry about ETA for your trucks. This allows you to provide excellent customer service to your clients. When your fleet hits a sudden traffic jam or experiences a breakdown, you have the immediate information necessary to convey a new route to your driver and a new ETA to your customer. Our GPS tracking system can streamline your entire fleet.

Improved Safety

In the past, your fleet relied on your maintenance department and individual drivers to report maintenance issues and keep track of any routine maintenance needs. With GPS fleet tracking, you and your maintenance team receive instant alerts when a truck signals a fault code alert. From low tire pressure to major engine repairs, receive the information you need to coordinate your team effectively.

Once you receive a code, it is easy to discuss the issue with your driver to get a clear picture of the event. Now your driver doesn’t have to make a solitary decision about when and where to receive maintenance assistance. Effective communication and accurate diagnostics keep your whole team on the same page for improved safety and response times.

Detailed Data

Don’t become overwhelmed with data. Use your vehicle tracking software to manage data and improve your operations successfully. With a GPS system, it’s easy to create accurate reports and easy-to-read charts that detail all the relevant data points, including:

• Labor costs
• Fuel costs
• Maintenance schedules
• Mileage for each journey

Labor costs and fuels costs are crucial to calculate accurately before payday. Small businesses, in particular, can struggle with cash flow issues. Avoid any surprise costs on payday and accurately plan for these routine costs.

The data you receive from a fleet tracking device can also help you cut expenses. While every GPS system delivers route information to ensure your drivers take the fastest route, a fully integrated fleet tracking system allows you to compare route options using labor and fuels costs in order to improve not only the speed but also the efficiency of each route.

Taxes Made Easy

Use your fleet tracking software to make tax preparation easier than ever. Keep track of hours, record miles, and create a detailed report of every gallon of fuel used. Not only do you need to record all of these statistics for your business taxes, but you also need to separate mileage and fuel costs by state.

Nationwide trucking can create tax situations that are complicated and time-consuming for businesses to report. Instead of being overwhelmed with tax reports, enjoy accurate and detailed information to avoid any mistakes and take the guesswork out of fuel and mileage estimates.

Contact M2M in Motion Today

When it comes to innovative, affordable, and easy fleet tracking, M2M in Motion is an industry-leading provider. We’ve been assisting businesses in creating dynamic reports and enjoying accurate information since 2013. Contact us today to learn how you can get started with our simplified fleet tracking system.

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Kellie Meister the Director of Operations in M2M in Motion would like to give you many tips in order to build a loyal customer. M2M in Motion has been in business since 2013 and in this short period of time M2M in Motion has built a customer base that includes over 20,000 connected vehicles on the road, so that makes us one the fastest growing technology companies.[/lgc_column]